Right profile of the LZ 129 Hindenburg model at the Veterans Memorial Air Park Musuem in Ft. Worth TX — photo by Joseph May

Dwarfing an Airbus 380 or Boeing 747 — longer than an ocean liner from stem to stern and as high from keel to stack — the airship Hindenburg must have been a sight to witness. Of course, we know of her tragic loss, but her history and her many flights are legend. First to reliably travel with passengers, mail and cargo transoceanic distances she flew over most of the continents including adventures down the coast of Brazil, touring the United States as well as across remote Russia to Japan.

Hindenburg, the name which needs little explanation — photo by Joseph May

Thanks to the Veterans Memorial Air Park, in Ft. Worth TX, we can see a large scale replica of LZ 129 Hindenburg which is the subject of the images in this post. This model is about six feet (~2m) in length and is impressive in its own right as well as being one of the best Hindenburg models I have seen.

Bows on view of LZ 129 Hindenburg, note the many viewing windows for the passengers and crew as well as the control gondola — photo by Joseph May

Detail view, especially for the panoramic gallery windows (where and aluminum piano was played in the lounge) — photo by Joseph May

Aft section of the airship Hindenburg — photo by Joseph May

The engines had to be accessed during flight by use of ladders which left the servicing crewman exposed to the elements — photo by Joseph May

The cruciform tail of the Hindenburg, far to the rear of the control gondola — photo by Joseph May

I agree that the flashes may not be entirely accurate. I searched using Google images as well as a few lighter-than-air web sites when writing this post and did not see those flashes. I assume the modeler(s) did not wish to use Nazi symbols and used a bit of license using an interpretation.

To me it spoils an otherwise superb model. The modeller can’t change history, nor is he or she responsible for it. If the swastikas invoke such horror, then don’t make a Nazi-era model. Or am I being too pedantic? What do others think? (Love the blog BTW)

Thanks for the compliment and so glad you enjoy the blog. Generally I agree with your logic but perhaps this may be a special case. A person who lost folks to Nazis? The model originated in Germany where swastikas are illegal? Or, perhaps another explanation? I’ll email the executive director and inquire — he’s aware of what’s there and maybe there is a deeper story to this.